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Browse All TopicsWhat is the best way to increase drive space on a Dell Poweredge 2650, SCSI controller PERC 3/Di runnning raid 5 with (3) 33gb hd's(two partition 12gb & 55 gb) without having to rebuild the server's o/s? Can I do a step ugrade(replace each drive with a 72gb drive) allowing the raid 5 to rebuild each drive? Then can I rearrange the size of the partitions? Or do I then have a 12gb, 55gb & an add'l 79gb partition?
Thanks
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No you can not increase the drive size by adding larger disk to the array. The array will use the disk but down grade the size to match the array.
Possibly a backup and restore.
Some have said a dynamic disk expansion will work, haven't tried it.
Check Dells web site (support.dell.com) look for perc 3Di array expansion.
The simplest way would be to get a hold of DriveImage XML(free)
You'll need to use BART's boot disk .
The link for a how to is on the Runtime web page.
www.runtime.org
Image the drives off to a USB drive or another large disk device.
Remove the old drives,install the 72s',create your new RAID,restore the image to the new drive set.(you can also adjust the size of the NTFS partitions on the fly too).
You're done.
You lose no data and your oringinal disks and data are intact in case of a F up.
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by: SysExpertPosted on 2007-03-05 at 08:50:01ID: 18655505
see
e.com/Stor age/Misc/Q _21472521. html
http://www.experts-exchang
as a start
I hope this helps !